By Kitty Fitton-Doyle
Hello lovely people — and if you’re new around these parts, welcome. If you’ve been here before, you’ll know I like my tea strong, my perspective honest, and my podcast chats exactly as they are: messy, heartfelt and full of real life.
This week on Ordinary Life, we released an episode that’s a bit of a thinker: “The Parkinson’s Dichotomy”. It explores the often uncomfortable space between acknowledging how tough Parkinson’s can be and choosing to live with humour, hope and humanity.
👉 Listen to the episode here:
The Parkinson’s Dichotomy – Ordinary Life Podcast
Living Between Two Truths
In this episode — Season 3, Episode 29 — we talk honestly about what it feels like to live with young-onset Parkinson’s in a world that often expects us to fit neatly into a box.
You’re either meant to be:
- the brave, inspirational overcomer, or
- the tragic figure defined by loss.
But real life? Real life lives in the middle.
Parkinson’s is difficult. The symptoms are real. The fatigue, the stigma, the constant recalibration of expectations — none of that is imagined. And yet, alongside all of that, many of us still find joy. We laugh. We love. We create routines that hold us steady. We notice small moments that suddenly matter more than they ever did before.
Both things are true — and that’s the dichotomy.
Why This Conversation Matters
One of the things we explore in this episode is how Parkinson’s is often talked about, rather than talked from within. Charity campaigns, well-meaning conversations and public narratives can sometimes flatten lived experience into something easier to digest.
But people living with Parkinson’s are not symbols. We’re people.
We talk about:
- How language shapes perception — and why it matters
- The pressure to perform positivity
- The freedom that comes from allowing complexity
- Why it’s okay to say “this is hard” and “I’m still here”
This isn’t an episode about pretending things are fine when they’re not. It’s about making room for the full emotional landscape — the grief, the humour, the anger, the tenderness and the unexpected joy.
Ordinary Life, Unfiltered
If you’re new to Ordinary Life, this episode is a good place to start. The podcast is built on honest conversations about chronic illness, resilience and what it means to live well — not perfectly — in the middle of uncertainty.
Expect warmth, candour and the occasional laugh-snort.
It’s the kind of conversation you can listen to while driving, folding laundry or sitting quietly with a cup of tea — and feel a little less alone by the end.
Join the Conversation
If you enjoyed the episode, please:
- Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
- Share the episode with someone who needs to hear it
- Follow me on social media for behind-the-scenes moments, clips and everyday reflections
Your listens, shares and messages genuinely matter — they help these conversations reach the people who need them most.
Book Kitty as a Speaker
If this episode resonated with you, and you’re organising an event, workshop or conference, I’d love to bring this conversation into your space.
I speak on:
- Living with Parkinson’s and chronic illness
- Resilience without toxic positivity
- Communication, empathy and lived experience
- Finding meaning and humour in ordinary life
- Perseverence through life’s hurdles
My talks are honest, warm, practical and human — with just enough irreverence to keep things real.
📩 Get in touch via my website justme.nz or through Ordinary Life (ordinarylife.co.nz) to discuss speaking opportunities.
Thank you for being here, for listening, and for being part of this beautifully imperfect ordinary life 💛